CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced that University of Dubuque women’s golf student-athlete Leah Balsbaugh and Central College football student-athlete Avion Bailey have been named American Rivers Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending October 19, 2025. The A-R-C weekly awards are nominated and voted on by the league’s sports information departments. The conference office then selects the female and male athletes of the week based upon sport performers of the week.
Female Athlete of the Week - Women’s Golf - Golfer of the Week - Leah Balsbaugh (Sussex, Wis./ Hamilton), University of Dubuque
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Balsbaugh is the Spartans first multi-time medalist at the A-R-C Women’s Golf Championship after taking gold last week.
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She finished with a three-round total of 232, with rounds of 75-77-79.
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She earned the honor of Golfer of the Year for her performance.
Male Athlete of the Week - Football - Special Teams Player of the Week - Avion Bailey (El Mirage, Ariz./Dysart), Central College
Men’s Cross Country - Runner of the Week - Isaiah Hammerand (Epworth, Iowa/Western Dubuque), Wartburg College
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Hammerand finished fifth out of 339 runners at the Augustana Interregional Invite over the weekend.
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He posted a time of 24:21.5 and finished 24.4 seconds behind the champion.
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The Knights finished second out of 36 teams with 68 team points.
Women’s Cross Country - Runner of the Week - Maddy Stevens (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes, Central College
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Stevens finished second out of 220 runners at the Bradley “Pink” Classic - White Race.
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She finished the event with a time of 21:55.47, 29.48 seconds behind an unattached runner from Bradley.
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Stevens' time was a new 6K personal record for herself.
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The Dutch finished fourth out of 21 teams with 107 team points.
Football - Defensive Player of the Week - Keenan Tyler (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah), Wartburg College
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Tyler was actively involved for the Knights in another conference win.
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He notched his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season, finishing with 12 stops, including eight solo.
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He also added two pass breakups, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble.
Football - Offensive Player of the Week - Noah Cracraft (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley), Simpson College
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Cracraft scored in every quarter of the Storm’s conference win over Luther.
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He tied the program record for most receiving touchdowns in a game, a record set in 2003.
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He finished with 11 catches for 230 yards.
Men’s Soccer - Defensive Performer of the Week - Blake Whitlow (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar), Wartburg College
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Whitlow helped the Knights to a crucial conference victories over Nebraska Wesleyan and Loras.
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He scored the game-winning goal versus the Prairie Wolves.
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He played all 180 minutes in two conference wins on the week.
Men’s Soccer - Offensive Performer of the Week - Francesco Mungari (Rome, Italy/Christchurch), Luther College
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Mungari recorded two goals and two assists on a 2-0-0 week for the Norse.
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He was in action for 103 minutes in the two contests.
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He leads the team with six goals this season.
Women’s Soccer - Defensive Performer of the Week - Zoey Sizemore (Omaha, Neb./Mercy, Central College
Women’s Soccer - Offensive Performer of the Week - Alyssa Tranchita (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall), University of Dubuque
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Tranchita recorded eight points during the week as the Spartans earned a conference win and a non-conference win.
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The Spartans remained undefeated in conference action after defeating Simpson 2-0.
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Tranchita was responsible for the game-winning goal versus the Storm on a penalty kick shot.
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Versus Simpson, Tranchita tied a school record 14 shots in a single game, along with tying the second-most shots on goal in a single game.
Men’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Zachary Cantorna (Colorado Springs, Colo./Lewis Palmer), Nebraska Wesleyan University
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Cantorna won two individual events and contributed on a relay in the Prairie Wolves 160-40 dual victory over Simpson.
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He placed first in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:05.35, finishing more than 30 seconds ahead of the field.
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Cantorna added a victory in the 100-yard backstroke hitting the wall in 54.87.
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He split a 23.70 lead-off leg on the P-Wolves 200-free relay that placed second, helping secure team points.
Women’s Swimming & Diving - Performer of the Week - Elena Lazzaretto (Venice, Italy/Liceo Galileo Gallilei), Nebraska Wesleyan University
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Lazzaretto captured three event titles to lead Nebraska Wesleyan to a commanding 161-20 dual win over Simpson.
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She won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:17.86, leading a 1-2-3 P-Wolf sweep by more than seven seconds.
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She then claimed first in the 100-yard breaststroke, with a time of 1:10.46.
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She swam the opening backstroke on NWU’s winning 200 medley relay, which posted a 1:52.86.
Women’s Volleyball - Defensive Performer of the Week - Taylor Bechen (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial), University of Dubuque
Women’s Volleyball - Offensive Performer of the Week - Macy Plucker (Canton, S.D./Canton), Nebraska Wesleyan University
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Plucker delivered a productive week in conference action as she totaled 49 kills over 12 sets.
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She posted a hitting percentage of .250.
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Plucker posted a career high 20 kills on .370 hitting in a five-set battle with conference leader Univ. of Dubuque.
Weekly Report
A top-25 showdown is set for this Saturday as the two undefeated football teams in the A-R-C collide in Waverly. No. 3 Wartburg and No. 12 Central will take the field at 1:00p in an important matchup.
The A-R-C Women’s Golf Championship wrapped up last Monday with UD’s Leah Balsbaugh earning her second medalist honor at the championship during her career. Coe’s Paige Franzen was named Rookie of the Year and Spartans head coach Dustin Bierman picked up another Coach of the Year honor.
The soccer race is tightening up on the men’s and women’s side. Keep up with action during the last few weeks in the season to see who takes home the trophies. In the latest NCAA NPI ranking, the Loras women sit at No. 14.
University of Dubuque remains the lone women’s volleyball team that is perfect in conference action this fall with a record of 5-0.
Championship Central: The next set championship for the A-R-C is the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship in Dubuque, Iowa as Loras College serves as the host. The full 2025-26 championship calendar can be found here: https://tr.ee/xwew1v
Fall Sport Standings: Football | Men’s Soccer | Women’s Soccer | Women’s Volleyball | Women’s Tennis
Watch all A-R-C action on the American Rivers Sports Network.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
